Big East Report Card Week 2: Almost Wasn't Heaven

While you recover from a great weekend of college football, don't fall asleep in class while Professor Tom posts these Big East grades from week 2:

West Virginia 24, Marshall 21:

Almost heaven? Almost not for the Mountaineers.

They're 2-0 and darn lucky to be there. Marshall could have and should have won this football game. This was by far the best game of the week and perhaps one of the best games in the entire college slate. 

Give quarterback Geno Smith his props, he led not one but two 90-yard plus scoring drives and was cool and calm in the process. Noel Devine put up 112 yards and a TD, the West Virginia offensive line has a lot of work to do. Smith went 32-45 for 316 and a score.

West Virginia certainly got more than it bargained for.

Grade:  West Virginia B

Cincinnati 40, Indiana State 7:

Bearcats go to 1-1 as expected.

Sophomore Darrin Williams made a huge splash with 117 yards on just 13 carries. John Goebel gained 75 yards on only nine carries, Zach Collaros was steady with an 11-17 effort for 130 yards and a pair of TDs.

No surprises in this one.

Grade: Cincinnati B

Rutgers 19, Florida International 14:

Rutgers defense again got the job done.

A Big East first with safety Joe Lefeged earning Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors and BE Special Teams Player of the Week honors as well. He was a man-imal. Six tackles, an interception, forced two fumbles and blocked two FIU punts, one set up a touchdown.

He provided the boost that the sputtering Rutgers offense needed. FIU is a better, tougher team than most people think. Very tough to play them at home.

Grade: Rutgers B

Pittsburgh 38, New Hampshire 16:

Tino Sunseri recovered from his debacle last week and went 24-34 for 275 yards, two TDs, one pick.

What's up with Dion Lewis? Is it a sophomore slump?

Lewis gained just 27 yards on 10 carries while sidekick Ray Graham put up 115 yards on just nine touches. Jonathan Baldwin caught six for an even 100. This one turned out as expected.

Grade:  Pittsburgh B

Louisville 23, Eastern Kentucky 16:

Hey, a win is a win and Charlie Strong will take his first here.

Quarterback Adam Froman went 15-23 for 219 yards, one TD, one pick. Bilal Powell had a good one with 92 yards on 16 touches. Doug Beaumont caught four for 83.

Grade:  Louisville B

Connecticut 62, Texas Southern 3:

Huskies beat the Southern out of Texas, didn't they?

Randy Edsall sure knows how to get his team to bounced back. After that mess at Michigan, this was a nice home display for the UConn fans. Jordan Toddman had a great day in only 30 minutes of football—15 carries, 151 yards, three touchdowns.

Huskies had 400-plus yards total offense to just 169 for Southern. A total wipeout, as expected.

Grade:  Connecticut A

Washington 41, Syracuse 20:

The excitement at Syracuse didn't last long.

Jake Locker got his revenge. He threw for four TDs, 289 yards, 22-33. For Syracuse, Ryan Nassib put up 35 passes, completed 17 for 202 and a touchdown, one pick.

This didn't come as a surprise, long way to travel, hostile environment.

Grade:  Syracuse C-

Florida 38, South Florida 14:

For one brief shining moment, there was Camelot.

USF took it to Florida in the early going, led 7-0 and should have taken that lead into halftime. But quarterback B.J. Daniels went brain-dead, forced a screen pass into three Gator defenders and that led to Florida's first TD.

Three more interceptions from Daniels, a bad handoff and five USF turnovers let this one get out of hand. USF will have the week off to lick its wounds.

Grade: South Florida D

There you have it, Big East watchers. We'll see you on Thursday for some entrees, appetizers and cupcakes to get your weekend tailgate going.